McDonalds workers vote for May Day strike action

While McDonald's boss rakes in £5,500 per hour, workers’ at five branches around the country have voted overwhelmingly to strike on May 1st against zero-hours contracts and poverty pay.

The workers, organised with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU), are fighting for a pay rise to £10/hr, choice in fixed-hour contracts, an end to unequal pay for young workers and for McDonald's to formally recognise their union.

One striking McDonald's employee, Lewis, told libcom.org about rude managers and poor health and safety as well as a lack of security about working hours and unfairness in how they're distributed. But low pay remained a central issue:

"Money is the big issue for a lot of us" he said. "You can do a lot of hours and not see much at the end of it. People end up doing a lot of overtime.

"When you mention money, you hear 'we can't afford it!' from the company but then you see his [Easterbrook's] pay, or their promotions, like the Monopoly one where they're giving away £100,000, but they say they can't afford to to pay their workers properly. It's hypocritical."

When you mention money, you hear 'we can't afford it!' from the company but then you see Easterbrook's pay, or their promotions, like the Monopoly one where they're giving away £100,000, but they say they can't afford to to pay their workers properly. It's hypocritical

Log in for more features

▶ Can comment on articles and discussions
▶ Get 'recent posts' refreshed more regularly
▶ Bookmark articles to your own reading list
▶ Use the site private messaging system
▶ Start forum discussions, submit articles, and more...